Cape Town – Acting President Paul Mashatile returned to his duties on Tuesday after recovering from a health scare that caused him to collapse in Limpopo.
He delivered a keynote address at the Heritage Day celebrations in Ficksburg, Free State, hosted by Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Mashatile emphasised the importance of preserving heritage sites, which are increasingly at risk due to climate change and urbanisation.
“It is a great honour and privilege to address you at this significant occasion as we celebrate our country’s Heritage Day. Unfortunately, as we were looking forward to this day, some parts of our country, which include Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State, were impacted by severe weather conditions, exacerbated by climate change.
“In celebrating our heritage, we must be alive to the impact of climate change on not only our wellbeing, but also on our culture. Extreme weather conditions such as those witnessed over the past few days affect some of our cultural and heritage sites, therefore undermining our national goals to protect and preserve our culture for generations to come,” he said.
He also called for the protection of both tangible and intangible heritage, including language, cultural practices, and oral history.
Additionally, Mashatile highlighted the upcoming repatriation of the remains of South African freedom fighters from Zambia and Zimbabwe as part of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Project.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile made his first public appearance since collapsing in Limpopo at the National Heritage Day event in Ficksburg, where he was introduced by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie
“A few weeks Ago you had an incident where you were… pic.twitter.com/KJ7JSii8kd
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) September 24, 2024
[WATCH] Deputy President Paul Mashatile says “he’s feeling much better and back at work” after collapsing on the podium in Limpopo. #Newzroom405 #HeritageDay pic.twitter.com/sJ1yfXmRpM
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 24, 2024
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
